Apparatus for dehydrating hydrocarbon-oils.



. E. I. DYER.

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING HYDROCARBON OILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 191a.

1,2g0,5@%n Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- E. I. DYER. APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING HYDROCARBONOILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. l9l3.

' ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ra amas PATENT carton ERNEST i. lover, or oa xmnn, camronma.

arrarm'rus roa DEHYDRATING HYDROCARBON-OILS.

To all whomrz't mayconoern: i Be it known that I, ERNEST I. DYER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county ofAlamedatand State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Dehydrating Hydrocarbon-Oils, of which thefollowing is a specification.-

While the hereinafter described apparatus is applicable to the treatmentof hydrocarbon oils generally, the same is more particularly adapted tothose Californian petroleu-ms which contain considerable quantities ofwater in an emulsified form, which cannot be readily and economicallyseparated from the oil by settling, moderate heating, blowin with air,or by the application of other wel known means usually resorted to forsuch purpose. These oils are usually dehydrated by evaporation of thewater by raising the mixture of oil and water to such a temperature atsensibly'atmospheric pressureas will cause ebullition, driving ofi' thewater and the more volatile constituents of the oil simultaneously, inthe form of a mixed vapor which is subsequently condensed and the liquidcomponents separated by allowing the water to settle.

The objects of the present invention are to increase the yield of thelighter distillates over that obtained by the means at present resortedto for dehydrating and refining the hydrocarbon oils without danger ofbreaking down the lighter fractions, 'or formation of unsaturatedhydrocarbons or other bodies of an objectionable character to such anextent as to involve more expensive chemical after treatment; to permitthe utilization of the latent heat of :evaporation of the mixed vaporsproduced on heating the oil under treatment, in such a manner that theyshall themselves assist in doing the W013]; of evaporation; to removeany des red vproportion of the emulsified water in the crude oil,

and provide against the production of an emulsion of water and lightdistillatesgto',

successfully treat such petroleums as, when subjected to ordinarycracking processes to;

increase the yield of light distillates, yield an'excessive amount ofso-called fixed gases and unsaturated hydrocarbons, resulting in nomaterial gain, through breaking down of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1913. Serial No. 752,092. A

Patented Mar.27,1l91'?.

the molecules of the lighterhydrocarbons as well as those of theheavier; to provide against subjecting the lighter and more valuabledistillates to any cracking effect, confining such effect to the lessvaluableconstituents of the crude oil; to provide for a simpler, lessexpensive, and more economical working of the-hydrocarbon oils than isat present effected in connection with the dehydration and refining ofsuch oils.

Qwing to the high latent heat of evaporation of water as compared withthe latent heat of evaporation ofthe constituents of petroleum, all ofthe usual evaporative systems require excessive expenditure of fuel;and, owing to the v-iolen't'ebullition of mix tures of oil and waterwhen certain more or less definite temperatures are reached, underordinary conditions of operation violent priming of the stills isexperienced, resultthe vapor pipe, finally settling to the bottom ofthe-receiving tank usually employed and being usually thrown away, underthe assumption that is not only a material with- -o .ut value, but thatin addition, being composed of sand and mineral matter, it needs to beremoved from the oil so that the final residuum may meet therequirements of customers who use it as a fuel. under my observation forsome months, this {emulsion (which was thrown away) was actuallyproduced by the plant at the rate of 1000 to 1500 barrels per day. Yetit contained, by analysis, material which was demonstrated to have amarket value sufficient to bring man income of several hundred dollarsper day, which loss is saved by'the use of the hereinafter describedapparatus for treating the hydrocarbon oils.

In the use of my apparatus, the oil to be treated is subjected in avessel closed except In one plant for its inlet and outlet, to atemperature which at normal pressure will drive off the lighter and moretender distillates without injury, after which they are removed frompossible harm in further stages of the process, where higher pressuresand temperatures are used. The oil being thus treated is immediately andWithout cooling, passed to a second similar vessel where it is subjectedto higher temperature and such pressures above the normal atmosphericpressure as experience indicates to be suitable. In this second vessel,conditions of temperature and pressure may be such as to encourage amoderate decomposition of some of the hydrocarbons still left in theoil.

The oil is introduced into both vessels and caused to circulate in acircuitous path in such a way as to cause its temperature to be raisedgradually, while its surface, which partakes of practically the sametemperature as that of the body of the oil at any given point, is incontact with the vapor in the upper part of the vessel, this vapor beingnormally of a temperature somewhat higher than that of the entering oiland somewhat lower than that of the outgoing oil. The contact of thevapor in the vessel with the relatively cool oil surface results in acertain amount of condensation of the vapor on the surface of the oil,the condensate being carried by the motion of the oil into regions ofhighertemperature where reevaporation takes place, producing resultsanalogous to those given by dephlegmators, or column stills. This actiontends to promote sharper fractionation and a yield of lighter distillategreater than that obtained by ordinary refining processes withoutdephlegmators.

By means of the circuitous travel of the oil in the vessels mentioned,the incoming oil and the outgoing oil are kept widely separated, and ofas different composition as can be possible when confined in the samevessel. In this way. the outgoing oil carries off fewer of thelow-boilingpoint fractions than it would if the circulation were of afortuitous character.

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanyingsheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a sideelevation of a plant adapted to carry out the process, employing steamas the primary heating medium, and an emulsified oil as raw material tobe dehydrated and par tially refined. said view disclosing one of theheating vessels, partly broken away, and the companion vessel, theinterchanger and the condenser in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an irregular horizontal sectional plan view of one of theheating vessels for the flowing oil.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the vertical baflie plates removedfrom one of the heating vessels.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of one of the headers takenon the line 44 of Fig. 2. x

Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the traps, and

Fig, 6 is an enlarged detail elevation of one of the headers.

In the drawings, the letters A and B are used to designate what will betermed heating vessels or cylinders of similar construction, the upperone of which is shown in vertical section. Each vessel is providedadjacent to its bottom with a nest of horizontally disposed circulatingtubes or pipes through which the heating mediumsteam, vapor, or anyother substance, may pass and circulate.

These vessels may also be heated externally by any other suitable means,butas one or both may be operated under pressure, I prefer the methodshown, for the sake of safety; but do not limit myself to it alone. Theheating tubes A of the vessel A and the tubes B of the vessel B arearranged as shown in the horizontal section in Fig. 2, in this instancebeing in the form of U-tubes, since this is a convenient form forallowing .for expansion and contraction,

although I do not confine myself to it exclusively, and are connectedrespectively to the headers C and C, the inlet of the heating agentbeing indicated at ti and the outletat d. Tubes to any desired extent ofheating surface are introduced and divided by a system of verticallongitudinal baflies D, and vertical cross baffles D, in such a way thatthe oil which is caused to enter at the opening a, (see plan-Fig. 2 ofthe drawings), shall be constrained to follow a tortuous path, asindicated by arrows, in a direction in general parallel to the tubes, upto the point of exit I). The cross baffles D are arranged with openingsa9, through which the tubes pass and in which they are supported. Theseopenings are of sufficient size to permit of a reasonably free passageof the oil circulating within the heating vessels Or the horizontaltubes therein. All bafiies within either heating vessel are carried upto about the mid-section of the vessel or to such a height as willprevent the foam which forms on the surface of the oil fromshort-circuiting to the outlet without having been compelled to eithertraverse the same course as the oil itself or else be dissipated beforereaching the outlet. The oil level is "maintained so as just to coverthe tubes, so that the oil shall be present in the vessel in relativelysmall quantities, and its level shall be so low as to preventitsreaching the vapor outletin case of violent frothing. In this way theoil is divided up into very small masses and brought intithrough theconduits n, E.

mately into contact with the heated surfaces of the tubes about whichthe oil circulates, and as it is further caused to flow continuously ina direction parallel to that of the tubes and counter to the directionof flow of the heating medium, conditions for rapid and efficient heattransfer and free liberation of vapor are provided. Under each set ofU-tubes I may introduce a perforated agitating pipe f, through whichsteam is ejected into the vessels to promote still more eflicient heattransfer by agitating the oil contained. therein, and also to assist inthe liberation of the vapors and to keep heating surfaces free fromscale-forming elements, the steam'being conveyed from a suitable sourceof supply to said agitating pipes The vessels A and B are "proportionedso as to have large liberating surface and ample liberating space abovethe surface of the liquid admitted therein, and as the bills alsointroduced gradually and in relatively small quantities it is not all inthe same "state of ebullition at any given instant, withthe result thatviolent. priming is prevented. Further protection is given againstviolent priming by causing part of the work of evaporation to be done ineach vessel, and

by the fact that evaporation takes place under pressure in the hottervessel, it being 2 well known that evaporation of liquid under pressurecan be accomplished more rapidly without priming than when pressure is,absent. e

As stated, the vessel B is exactly similar in construction to that ofvessel A, but the heating medium in itstubes B consists of the mixedvapor from the vessel A under pressure. The vapor from vessel A isentirely condensed in the tubes of vessel B, vessel A being operatedunder pressure in order that there shall be sufficient temperature headin vessel B'to permit of complete transfer of the latent heat of thevapor from vessel Ato the liquid contents of vessel B. By this means,the heating medium introduced in the tubes A and vessel A, in this casesteam, not only evaporates a quantity of liquid in the said vessel Aproportional to the amount of steam supplied from some out side source,but by means .of the arrange- V ment described, eva'perates almost anequal additional amountinthevessel B. So that with the arrangementshown, neglecting loss of heat by radiation, etc, the original heatingmedium does, roughly, about twice the work it would do under ordinaryconditions. This results inia great saving of fuel. I wish to layparticular stress on the fact that with an 011 containing a considerablequantity of water in emulsion complete utilization of the latent heat inthe vapors" from A cannot be obtained unless the interior of vessel A ismaintained at a higher pressure than the interior-of vessel B, a higherpressure being maintained in the vessel A by maintaining a highertemperature therein, the means for this purpose, in the presentinstance, being steam introduced from an out side source into theheating coils A of the vessel A. Operation under varying stages ofpressure on this character of oil is therefore necessary to effect highheat efficiency and low fuel cost.

In the particular construction illustrated in the drawing, thehydrocarbon, to be treated, first enters the apparatus through apipe Lleading into'an interchanger K from which it passes through the outletpipe M, the inlet connection E of the vessel B,

and into said vessel B, in which it is partially distilled by heatderived from the vaporsfrom vessel A said vapors from the supply of heatfrom outside sources.

Pressure is maintained in vessel A by causing the vapors which condensein the tubes B of vessel B to discharge "through the piping B connectingwith an automatic trap F of any approved type or other suitable meanswhich allows only liquid to pass therethrough.

The particular construction of trap shown comprises a vessel providedwith an inlet R and an outlet pipe R, the inlet R being connected withthe pipe connection B, and the outlet R with the pipe J. In the interiorof the vessel is a pot P pivotally mounted as at A". adapted tocooperate with a valve seat C said valve being carried at the upper endof a rod B, which is pivoted at its lower end to the pot B The operationof the trap is as follows: Mixed liquid and vapor en ter through theinlet R, the liquid causing the pot in the interior to float keeping thevalve in closed position until such time as the accumulation of liquidin the trap has become so great that it overflows into the interior ofthe pot. When this occurs, the pot fills and sinks, the valve C beingopened with the downward movement of the pot P and the pressure of thesteam or vapor, as the case'may be, forces. the contents of the potoutthrough the outlet R. With the removal of the liquid from the pot thesame is lightened and the pot floats, again closing the valve. By aproper relative proportioning of' the heating surfaces in the twovessels, the relative amounts of evaporation in the said vessels may bedistributed as desired, so that any bodies contained in C designates avalve Ill@ the raw crude oil which'might be injured by the pressure oftemperatures obtaining in vessel A will be removed in vessel B. In thisarrangement of flow, the relatively light crude oil is first subjectedto the lowest temperature and ressure of the process and the relativelyeavy partially dried oil is subjected to the highest pressure andtemperature of the process, not only for the reason that the lightfractions are more liable to damage by the effect of relatively highpressure and temperature than the heavy portions, but for the additionalreason that the heavy portions normally boiling at higher temperaturethan the light portions require the application of a higher temperatureheating medium to extract their less volatile constituents. J

While this direction of flow is the correct one for relatively lightoils containing water in an-emulsified form, it is not necessarily theonly correct one for heavy emulsified oils containing little volatilematter, and I do not wish to restrict myself to this direction of flow,choosing on occasion with suit able character of oil to reverse thedirection.

This arrangement may be extended indefinitely and the vapor dischargedfrom the vessel B may be used to heat a third vessel, and so on, eachsucceeding vessel being operated at lower pressure and temperature thanthe vessel immediately preceding. In the present case, the vaporgenerated in vessel B is withdrawn through the perforated pipe Gextended therein and" conveyed thereby to a condenser G", Fig. 1 of thedrawings, which condenser may be of ordinary construction and which mayuse water or oil as a cooling medium, according to circumstances Thevapor passing through the pipe G discharges eventually into a header tothe condenser G. In the drawing it is shown as first passing through adephlegmator H which is interposed in the pipe connection- G, althoughthe use of the dephle mator is not essential except where sharpractionation is required. The header G is divided by a horizontal wall 9into an upper chamber g and a lower chamber k, and the vapor dischargedinto the upper chamber 9" escapes therefrom through the U-shaped tubes Hlocated within the condenser and connected with the said chambers g andh, and flows through the said tubes H- until finally discharged as acondensate from said tubes into the lower chamber h, from which chamberthe distillate and water discharge through the outlet pipe h and are runto suitable tanks (not shown) where the water is drawn ofl. The water oroil used as a cooling medium enters the a condenser through the supplypipe H, circulates within the condenser surrounding the tubes H 2 andescapestherefrom through the outlet pipe I, the flow of the coolingmecuum being directed by the horizontal baflie J within the condenser.The operation of dephlegmators in connectionwith the treatment of thehydrocarbon oils being well known and understood, a description of theworking thereof and the advantages flowing therefrom is needless in theresent case.

The heavy distlllates flowing from the interior of the heating tubes ofthe vessel B into the interior of 'the header C pass through the outletd through the pipe B to the trap F.. From the trap F, by closing thevalve K and opening the valve y, the distillates may be discharged intothe condenser G through the pipe connection J, the latter connecting atits upper end with the pipe G; or by closing the valve j and opening thevalve K the distillates may be led ofl through a pipe connection to anyother point desired.

Where fuel is relatively expensive, instead of condensing the vaporsfrom the vessel B, by means of Water or crude oil, I may use them or anyof the other vapors for redistilling the crude naphtha ordistillate-produced by the plant, thus delivering gasolene or similarmerchantable refined materials by continuous operation direct from thecrude oil. I may also use a part of these vapors where under pressure,for the generation of power in pumps, engines, or auxiliary apparatus ofthe plant; and where exhaust steam is available from engines, pumps, orother steam using appliances, I may also introduce it at suitable pointsinto-the heating tubes of the vessels described, there utilizing it forheating purposes; or I may use it in the agitating ipes.

The vapors w ich condense in the tubes of the various vessels may be runto ordinary coolers, or may be caused to give up their heat at any pointwhere temperature conditions render an interchange of heat possible ordesirable. Where steam is used as heating medium in the first vessel A,I return the drips by means of a pipe E to a trap Eor suitable automaticpump and re ceiver, direct to the steam boilers, not shown; The trap E,in the present instance, is of the same construction as the trap F. Asupply conduit d for the heating medium connects with theinlet d of theheader 0 of the vessel.

After the oil leaves vessel A, I customarily pass it through theinterchanger K, where it assists in preheating the incoming crude oilfor the plant.

In this case, the crude oil is forced into the interchanger through thesupply pipe L and circulating around and flowing over the heatedsurfaces of the nest of horizontally disposed U-shaped pipes L receivesan initial heating, leaving the interchanger through the outlet pipe M,which connects 13o the lighter portions as may pass ofi as vapor duringthe preliminary heating escape through the outlet M of the interchangerand are conveyed to a suitable place of deposit. The heated oil orresiduum from the vessel A discharges through the outlet S into a pipe Sleading to the upper chamber Z of the header n of the interchanger,escaping therefrom through the upper run of the pipes L and circulatingtherethrough discharges into the lower chamber Z of the said header,finally escaping through the residuum outlet N. The flow of this hot oilthrough the tubes L heats the same to such an extent as to giveaninitial heating of the infiowing crude oil and by so doing permits allheat units to be thoroughly utilized, the

baffle on within the interchange! K causing the inflowing'crude oil toflow in an opposite direction to the fiow of the heated oil from thevessel A.

The utilization of the interchanger with many oils will perform part ofthe work of evaporation, and under certain conditions may be employedfor redistilling the distillates produced by the various vessels.

The apparatus herein described has been subjected to the practical testof dehydration and refining hydrocarbon oils for commercial use and on alarge scale in connection with the oils obtained from the fields ofSanta Barbara county, California. The oil used during this periodcontained 15% to 30% of water in an emulsified form of a particularlyrefractory character. The plant was installed with the expectation thatif it should prove successful it would re lace the existing plant, whichdistilled ofi t e water from the crude oil together with the lighthydrocarbons by means of steam stills operating under atmosphericpressure. The old plant and the new plant were operated simultaneouslyon exactly similar oil, and the present apparatus proved successful and.

created a material gainover the old plant then in use. The describedapparatus may be installed and operated in two or three stages ofpressure and temperature, but so far it has been operated in two stages.During this time it has successfully handled severalmillions of barrelsof oil, removing over a million barrels of water from the emulsion inthe oil using about one-third of the fuel required by the old plant andsimilar evaporative plants, and its production of distillate from thesame quantity and quality of oil as that used by the old plant has beengreater, a series of laboratory tests showing theyield of distillatefrom the plant to be considerably greater than that obtained in thelaboratory by ordinary laboratory methods. Comparison of the yield ofdistillate produced by the old plant above referred to with the yieldproduced by the plant incontained, the proportion of low boiling pointfractions, etc.; it is possible under certain conditions to dispenseentirely with water as a cooling medium-a feature of extremevalue inmany oil fields located in arid regions.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbonoils for the described purpose, the same comprising a plurality ofclosed vessels, means for each of said vessels for causing the oil toflow in relatively small streams in a tortuous path therethrough, saidmeans including a plurality of closely associated vertical longitudinalbafies in the vessel, a series of heat circulating tubes in each vessel,the circulatingtubes being arranged so that some of the tubes extendbetween adjacent baffles, means for delivering oil for treatment intoone of said vessels, devices for forcing a heating medium from anoutside source of supply through the heat circulating tubes of thecompanion vessel, means for conveying the vapors generated from the oilin said vessel into and through the heat circulating tubes of the firstmentioned vessel'for the heating ofthe oil contained therein, devicesfor leading the oil from said vessel and forcing the same into andthrough the second vessel, and means for removing the vapors flowingfrom the use from the first mentioned vessel to a suitable place ofdeposit a 2. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils for thedescribed purpose, the same comprising a plurality of closed vessels, aseries of heat circulating tubes arranged in each of said vessels, meansfor each of said vessels for causing the oil to flow in relatively smallstreams in a tortuous path therethrough, said means including aplurality of vertical longitudinal baffles within the vessel, and aplurality of transverse vertical bafies, means for delivering oil fortreatment into one of said vessels,devices for forcing a heating mediumfrom an outside source of supply through the heat circulating tubes ofthe companion vessel, means for conveying the vapors generated from theoil in said vessel into .and through the heat circulating tubes of thefirst mentioned vessel for the heating of the oil containedthereinydevices for leading the oil from said'vessel and forcin thevessel, and means for removing the vapors from the first mentionedvessel to a suitable place of deposit. 7

3. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils for'the described purpose,the same comprising a plurality of closed vessels, a series of heatcirculating tubes in each of said vessels, means for each ofsaid vesselsfor causing oil delivered thereto to flow in relatively small streams ina tortuous path therethrough, said last mentioned means including aplurality of closely associated vertical longitudinal baflles within thevessels extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a 1 pointsubstantially midway of the height of the vessels, and transversevertical baflies provided with openings therethrough located below thetops of the longitudinal baifles, means for delivering oil for treatmentinto one of said vessels, means for supplying a heating medium to theheat circulating tubes of the companion vessel, means for conveying thevapors generated from the oil in said vessel into and through the heatcirculating tubes of the first mentioned vessel for the heating of theoil contained therein, devices for leading the oil from said vessel andforcing the same into and through the second mentioned vessel, and meansfor removing the vapors of the first mentioned vessel to a suitableplace of deposit.

4. An apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils for the described purpose,the same comprising a plurality of closed vessels, and

means for each of said vessels for causing the oil delivered thereto toflow in relatively small streams in a tortuous path therethrough, saidmeans including a plurality of closely associated vertical longitudinalbafflcs in the vessels, and transverse baflles provided with openingsforming passages through the same for oil, a series of heat circulatingtubes in each of said vessels, said heat circulating tubes beingarranged so that some of the tubes extend between adjacent longitudinalbattles and through the openings in the transverse baffles, said tubesbeing of a size in cross section less than the cross sectional area ofthe openings, means for supplying a heatingmedium to the heatcirculating tubes of the companion vessel, means for conveying thevapors generated from the oil in said vessel into and through the heatcirculating tubes of the first mentioned vessel for the heating of theoil contained therein, devices for leading the oil from said vessel andforcing the same into and through the second mentioned vessel, and meansfor removing the vapors from the first mentioned vessel to a suitableplace of deposit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST I. DYER.

, Witnesses:

N. A. AcKER, D. B. RICHARDS.

